Soil Association attacks Miliband's 'lifestyle choice' comment

The Soil Association has reacted angrily to David Miliband's remark that eating organic foods is a "lifestyle choice".

Mr Miliband, who is the secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs, made his comments in an interview with the Sunday Times.

In the same interview he denied that there was any evidence that organic food is more beneficial to one's health.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Farming Today, the director of the Soil Association, Patrick Holden, said: "He [Miliband] is committed to one planet living and one planet in agriculture and more than any other system in farming, organic farming reduces carbon emissions and makes a substantial contribution towards climate change."

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"So it is one thing to question whether there is sufficient evidence to make an absolute judgement about the health benefits but it is quite another to dismiss it as a lifestyle choice."

Though only four per cent of overall UK produce is organic, a full 50 per cent of baby food and 20 per cent of dairy products are organically produced, added Mr Holden.

He went on to call Mr Miliband's remarks "patronising".

However, the National Farmers' Union has thrown its support behind Mr Miliband.

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